Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-07

| wandered 10 fresh pastures little farther South
the seventh heaven OF delight. Uncle Robert sent
me generous check, and begged Margaret and
me 70 l9,n MN at venice for the tete. His wife's
| niece MISS Laurie, was with him, and we should
| Doubtless enjoy each others society
remembered Madge Laurie as an unconsciona-
like her at all then but now / was willing to con-
| sort with any one for the sake OF a glimpse at
venice ana Az us gayeties at that season. And
best OF ALL Herbert Stacy was to be there and we
| should meet again! How lucky that I was going;
otherwise there would be no one to prevent Madge
| self match for her now
| Uncle ROBERT gave us minute directions about
/ our route over tne mountains by diligence and by
arrangements or we should all miss each other.
he was Obliged 10 be in Verona at a certain date
ana could not tarry In Venice day after the fete.
we must notify him at once whether he might ex-
pect us or not and If could not arrive surely by
the I'th, we had better remain quietly where We
| diligence left that very hour which would
take our answer, and the next morning we
could start, arriving at noon OF the 18th II all
This most promising OF journeys began very
auspiclouSly on cool, delicious morning. We
mounted 70 The coupe places in the diligence; the
driver, a Saucy-eyed fellow, with bunch OF
rhododendroh in his hat, barred his head num-
pied prayer and crossed himself before he took
road like a marble floor
Even TO us wayfarers, who had grown quite
familiar with the grand plunge and roar Of an
plumy pines, jauDtily worn clOud-veils and other
mountain millinery, this drive would be for all
t,.ne memorable one. Italy Tapped over into
the Iyroi and gave the people dark lustrous
eyes. 1.-the figures, graceful port and picturesque
costume long before we left Austrian territory
Near Croce Blanca pathetic incident occurred.
Wan-looklng woman came out from a cottage
and walked slowly toward u.s. bearing a small
black box on her head. She said a few sentences
ID Italan 10 our guard, who reverently pushed the
rough little coffin in among the luggage at the
back OF the diligence He afterward told us that
IL contained the body of baby who had died the
previous day. Its mother, fatally ill at the cot
tage, had begged that 1t might be buried at Pieve
Oh Cadore her birthplace, where She had friends
IL was quite out of the ordinary custom to make
the ulllgence funeral car for peasant baby; but
regulations were elastic In that part OF the world
ana our guard seemed ready to risk reproOf in
order 10 crafty dying woman'S wish
Pieve Oil Cadore, the birthplace OF Titan as well
as Oi ohe poor woman who had lost her baby, was
a mile or more distant from the diligence road
For passengers wishing to visit this place an
omnibus was sent 10 the crossroads; those more
proSacally inclined remaining at an inn for din
ner and repoSe.
We were among the latter, and, after taking
relreshment, watched at our ease from afar the
OuStle Oh changing horses and men and eScOrting
travellers and luggage from one conveyance TO the
other. AT nightfaI we watched Marina, where we
We're provided with supper and a room decorated
with pictures OF saints In smiling torture
before resuming our Journey Margaret astonished
me by sending for her violin.
lou don't mean TO Say you have brought the
fiddle on this expedition OF all others :" exclaimed
blankly.
''Oi course brought it, 1t would not have been
safe otherwise, ana 1 was not sure we Should
return by this route bade the waiter put it in
times fanCied Ii annoyed YOU"
very Well returned, resignedly. 81 will 60
Out Out lor walk while you practice" And / suited
the actlon TO the word without further delay
MY thoughts were cheerful companions. The
next afternoon would find us in Venice: the day
following would be red-letter one for ali the wear
wonders no r:r a..i--
meeting again Herbert Stacy All was like a de-
hc1ous dream, short and sweet as dreams are but
the journey might cause
When returned from my walk found Marea-
e ,d IN Uoas OF tears pacing the room disractedy
anu "Iihglilg ner hands In undisguised distress
When she could control her voice She told me a
wOeful tale. VIVA ~
When went out she had sent for the violin
AFTER some unaccountable delay a man appeared
bringing black box, which was Hke~and vet
;Serangeiy uniike,the fiddle case. "a creepy feel
Ing Tan uown my back as looked at 1t she said !:
Il sent the man to look again, but he declared
there was no other black box among the lurgape
eAeeps d NAT case He grew quite violent about
IL, and suppose he was excited too for the trnth
was beginning TO dawn upon me- Finally he ran
away ana got screwdrtver opened the box and
started back with an exclamation which Confirmed
my worst fears. II containedthat Door lttt he ba
oohing as beautiful and peaceful as anything you
IRON the shock now Margaret, dear?"
,ya bTr1s lou d0nt seem TO realize that they
dropped Imply into chair.
,,d nefe Is not moment to lose" Margaret con-
tinued. 81 must take the first conveyance back TO
Alone To vep 0reaAs my heart TO have you so
every moment. But what can do? Oh, dear:
was s.s ever ANYTHING so distressing.r
SOuiunt We leave the fiddle till after our frinc,
HOW can you make such a wild suggestion.
Kate? II would be ruined by lying SO lone in the
lamp Ii ertn; Prompt action may possibly save 1t
the rescue" ' '' ~ a' oinCe "
,o saw mat remonstrance would be perfectly use
less; Margaret would be frantic If restrained She
could not go back to Pieve alone because tn ex
pii,lh her mission there, Italian would he neces
naIy, aiia Margaret had not learned the language
which spoke We'll She had befriended me 10 her
own inconvenience in thousand Instances
ailreaoy, and IT was plainly my DUTY to stand bv
nee Wonid hn ~, u not snow now great the sacri-
nope OF meeting Herbert Stacy
AFTER or1el. bitter conflict with myself said.
VIII go oach TO Pleve with you" and as i ut
Itieo THESE WOruS felt mentally all the torture
In their bodies p |''eo
But, dear child. you will miss the Jete; there is
Never mind that didn't feel much interest
an and n; r any w it was the.the scenery liked.
determined to play my part OF martyr gracefully
even az The expense OF truth.
How good OF you, Kate! 1 hated more than
"cfoS can express TO 60 alone among all those
queer people. couldn't explain my mission. and
they would probably think me murderess. Never
tAiho. VIII tdhc you u venice next year. III I
have to go in rags to accomplish it,"
"Alas. next year there will be no Herbert
thought, regretfully
An lli-assOrted pair OF SteedS attached To An an
tlquated vehicle took US and the poor baby bacL
10 flePe AT an Irritating jog-trOt / didn't care
Wnethef Iltlan was born there, or born at all for
that matter, and vOuchsafed hardly a glance NJ
his house as We passed was too doWncast and
disappointed Though Strove to conceal nv feel
!hgs from Margaretl even to feel amusement at
Tue rnfcul0us GRAND upon which We had come
III was as Margaret feared; the black box con-
tanning the Violin had been taken by mis-, axe
irOm the dllgence, received and wept over n,
buried, with an accompaniment OF wax tauers
ana Dyed lmrn0rtelleo, the previous afternoon
Oor story collected about Us what seemed 10 he
the Whof village, open-eyed, open mOuthed and
tneSe features, when Italian, can ACCOMPLISH
Wondrous flashing and chattering under excite
ment.
The verttable baby was followed to the church.
yard by procession which would have delighted
the soul OF It's mother, could the poor woman have
seen IL.
After Margaret and had undergone from 1ud1-
ciil authority, nre OF crOsS-queSttOning begin
ming Win The maiden name OF our Respective
mothers, and ending with our opinion OF TyroIean
scenery, the men We had engaged were allowed to
| rae the little mound which covered Margaret,s
treasure.
As the grave was opened great many blue
nnen aprons were pressed TO fine dark eyes sobs
broke from lnen-covered boSoms hung with chains
o. more or less claims 10 sterling worih and heads
wrealhed In black braids thrust through with sill
yer pins, bobbed TO and fro with emotion This
exhibition Of sentiment seemed out OF place over
the remains OF fiddle, but IL was easter for the
| peasant women 10 weep over a grave as was their
wont, than TO discriminate
me oox was taken out, and even Margaret ad-
Il n IN